Seattleites tune in to Q13 Tuesday at 5:30pm when I'll be talking about Thanksgiving wines.

Thanksgiving can cause a great deal of stress: the preparation, the cooking - the relatives. Don’t let picking wines become one of the problems.

More than any other meal, Thanksgiving can present wine pairing issues if you take it too seriously. So don’t. My only rule for Thanksgiving wines is…don’t break the bank because there’s a lot going on that day and the wine will be flowing freely.The diversity of food at the table and the assortment of friends and family feasting assures that one size won’t fit all. Thanksgiving therefore presents the perfect opportunity to experiment with wine pairings by offering a wide assortment of wines, from sparkling to whites, roses, and reds.

Sparkling wines provide perhaps the most breadth in terms of pairing, whether as an aperitif or alongside the main course. In Washington, Domaine Ste. Michelle, made in the methode champenoise, offers a great bang for the buck (see review below). Or drink like the White House does with some Treveri Cellars, such as their sparkling Gewurztraminer (see review below).

Moving on to whites but sticking with Gewurztraminer - if you struggle saying this, think, ‘girlsaremeaner’ which makes the pronunciation both easy and unforgettable - try the 2010 Dowsett Family ($20) or 2010 Domaine Pouillon ($15). Both from the Columbia Gorge, these two wines showcase this grape’s inherent spiciness and can bring out some wonderful accents to Thanksgiving fare.

If you’re looking for a white that’s a bit more full-bodied, try the DeLille Cellars2009 Chaleur Estate Blanc $32 (see review below). This beautiful Sauvignon Blanc-Semillon blend is oak aged, giving the wine enough body and weight to stand up to turkey day without being overpowering. Or go with a racier style of the same blend with the 2010 Cadaretta SBS ($23) - among my favorites from the 2010 vintage.

Dry roses also fit in well at Thanksgiving - stay away from the sweet stuff as items like cranberry sauce are guaranteed to make the wine taste sour and many won’t have the acid to pair well with turkey. One of my favorites this year is the 2010 Barnard Griffin Rose of Sangiovese ($12), which offers bright cherry flavors and spice.

In terms of red wines, leave the trophy Cabernets for after dinner. The tannins and oak on these wines can often overwhelm turkey. Instead, go with Pinot Noir, which makes a wonderful pairing, drawing out spice and earth tones of the herbs in stuffing.

Pinot has never been one of Washington’s strengths. No matter. Look just south to Oregon where there are an abundance of high quality wines. One Pinot value comes from A to Z Wine Works 2009 Pinot Noir $20 (see review below). Two other well priced wines are from Stoller Vineyards, the 2008 JV Pinot Noir ($25) and 2007 SV Pinot Noir ($40) reviewed below. Both of the Stoller wines possess bright fruit flavors and a sublime earthy quality, showcasing Oregon’s signature grape.

All of these Grenache-based wines are so delicious – and moving up into higher price points – that you may want to have a secret hideaway to pour them to make sure Uncle Fred doesn’t guzzle the whole bottle without knowing what it is.

Finally, when it comes time for the pie pairings, think about a Port-style wine. A number of wineries in Washington have begun experimenting with these wines in recent years, using traditional grapes such as Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, and Souzao. One recent favorite is the Brian Carter Cellars 2009 Opulento ($18) (see review below). This wine is enjoyable enough to stand on its own while also being sweet enough to stand up to pecan pie.

Whatever you go with, remember that Thanksgiving is supposed to be fun so relax and have a good time. And just in case the family isn’t making you feel too thankful, at least you’ll be drinking some good wine!

Happy Thanksgiving! And make sure to let me know what you're planning to open.

Treveri Cellars Gewurztraminer Demi Sec Sparkling Wine Columbia Valley NV $18Rating: + (Good) An outrageously aromatic wine full of all of the grape’s inherent spice and floral notes. The palate is medium-plus sweet but finishes dry with abundant spice flavors. This is a fun wine that is guaranteed to be a good conversation piece.

Kimberly, good question regarding Maison Bleue. I would try contacting Vinum who distributes their wine. They can be reached at (206) 621-8843. Jaja might be all gone at this point but they've got lots of other great wines as well. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving!

Kimberly, update on the Maison Bleue reds. I talked with the folks at Vinum and they said that Esquin, Pete's, and McCarthy & Schiering (both) all carry their wines. They said that Jaja in particular can be tough but Essential Market by Purple Cafe downtown has a couple bottles left. Good luck!